Sunday, November 30, 2008

New leaders on the Democratic and Republican sides in the Illinois Senate will start work early next year. Democrats last week chose Chicagoan John Cullerton, 60, as the next Senate president, while Republicans chose Christine Radogno, 55, of Lemont as the new Senate GOP leader. Cullerton and Radogno spoke briefly with reporters about their new responsibilities.

JOHN CULLERTON - Cullerton will succeed Emil Jones, who is retiring from the Senate. Cullerton has been in the Senate since 1991 and previously served in the House from 1979 to 1991.

Q: What will you bring to the leadership position that is different?

A: “It’s obvious that there is a rift between the speaker (House Speaker Michael Madigan) and the governor (Gov. Rod Blagojevich), maybe even the president of the Senate and the speaker, and that’s caused us to have some dysfunction.“I know I have a good relationship with both of those gentlemen, and I’m starting afresh, so I don’t inherit all of the baggage that’s built up over the last few years.” “My 10 years in the minority (party) taught me the importance of working with the minority.”

Q: How will you, as a Chicagoan, balance the interests of other parts of the state?

A: “This job is different than representing my district. I’ve been elected for 30 years, voting my district and well enough to get elected. But this is a different job. I represent the whole caucus.”“I also recognize that I represent the Republican districts as well. I’m the president of the whole Senate, not just the Democratic side. That’s the spirit with which I want to go forward.”

Q: If the governor continues to act in ways that lawmakers find to be inappropriate, does he risk becoming irrelevant? Will lawmakers override his vetoes more often?

A: “No, you can’t do that. You can’t do that. You can’t just roll over the governor. He’s the governor. He still has the powers that can thwart your efforts. It’s true you can pass legislation. When it comes to money, though, you have to get the governor’s cooperation, and that’s what we’re talking about doing. We’re not talking about ultimatums here and trying to stick it to him. It just makes more sense to try to work with him.”

CHRISTINE RADOGNO - Radogno will succeed Frank Watson of Greenville, who is relinquishing the leadership position after suffering a stroke this fall. She has been in the Senate since 1997.

Q: What do you bring to the leadership position that is different?

A: Everybody has their own personality, their own style. I mean, I generally am not someone that loves an open, aggressive fight. I have a different style of trying to convince people and get them on my side.”

Q: How will you, as a suburban resident, balance the interests of other parts of the state?

A: “I have had the benefit of running statewide (for state treasurer in 2006). I’ve been in the caucus for quite awhile. There has been a heavy representation of downstaters, so I feel like I have a really good handle on that. I also have committed to the caucus members in the counties downstate that I will be available. I mean, I’m willing to travel and get around the state and make sure that I am adequately understanding people’s individual districts.”

Q: You’re the first woman to be elected as one of the four legislative leaders in the Illinois General Assembly. How big a deal is gender, in terms of how you will approach the position?

A: “I think gender is an interesting sidebar, and it’s kind of fun to be the first woman. But I think that it really is much more pertinent that, you know, my background and the skills I bring as an individual, not necessarily (being) a woman.”

Q: What do you hope to accomplish?

A: “We need to get together to solve the problems of the state, but as we’re trying to get together, I mean, we will present an opposing point of view. But it’s not going to be petty. It’s not going to be personal. It’s going to be policy-oriented.”

In this file photo of Nov. 13, 2008, Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington at the House Energy and Commerce Committee hearing on health care coverage issues. According to a Democratic official, Napolitano will be named as his Secretary of Homeland Security. (AP Photo/Lauren Victoria Burke, File)

WASHINGTON - President-elect Barack Obama plans on Monday to announce six experienced hands to fill top administration posts, moving at record speed to name the leadership team that will guide his presidency through a time of war and recession.His selections include longtime advisers and political foes alike, most notably Democratic primary rival Hillary Rodham Clinton as secretary of state and President Bush's defense secretary, Robert Gates, staying in his current post. The two were among six who Obama planned to announce at a news conference in Chicago, Democratic officials said.The officials said Obama also planned to name Washington lawyer Eric Holder as attorney general and Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano as homeland security secretary. He also planned to announce two senior foreign policy positions outside the Cabinet: campaign foreign policy adviser Susan Rice as U.N. ambassador and retired Marine Gen. James L. Jones as national security adviser.

Friday, November 28, 2008

CHICAGO - Clout-heavy Chicago politicians are lining up to replace U.S. Rep. Rahm Emanuel, prompting some experts to wonder if the local Democratic party will split on whom to anoint as his successor.The strength of the contenders may make it tough for Democrats to unite behind one candidate for the congressional seat. Also in question is whether Mayor Richard Daley will name a favorite.Emanuel, 48, has accepted the job as chief of staff to President-elect Barack Obama and is expected to step down soon, leaving two years on his second term with more than 180 days before the next election. Under Illinois law, that means a special election will be held to replace him.

Illinois lawmakers don’t hear much good news these days. The budget is falling apart. Schools are struggling. Top leaders are feuding.

So the selection of John Cullerton as the next Senate president has thrilled legislators hungry for any sign that things will get better. That optimism also means Cullerton faces high expectations — perhaps unrealistically high.

People are throwing around words like “harmony” and “era of change” when talking about Cullerton leading the Senate and negotiating with the cantankerous House speaker and governor.

Friday, November 21, 2008

Gov. Rod Blagojevich is talking with some of the candidates to replace President-elect Barack Obama in the U.S. Senate, but he's giving few hints about his plans for filling the vacancy.The Democratic governor spoke this week with U.S. Reps. Danny Davis, Luis Gutierrez and Janice Schakowsky, officials said Thursday.Davis said they had a pleasant but very general conversation. The two did not discuss policy details or how Blagojevich will make a decision.Schakowsky gave a similar assessment but added that Blagojevich indicated he probably would not choose Obama's replacement until mid-December at the earliest.Blagojevich has also discussed the job with state Senate President Emil Jones, who was one of Obama's political mentors.The governor, who has sole power to appoint Obama's replacement, has not spoken to some other often-mentioned candidates - notably U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. and Tammy Duckworth, director of the Illinois Department of Veterans' Affairs.

Thursday, November 20, 2008

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) - There's a shakeup at the statehouse, with lawmakers resolving leadership battles on both sides of the aisle.Illinois Senate Democrats tonight picked Chicagoan John Cullerton to become their leader, putting him in line to become Senate president in January.And Senate Republicans resolved a leadership battle of their own. They elected Christine Radogno of Lemont, making her the first woman to win 1 of the Legislature's top leadership posts.Cullerton and Radogno will start their new jobs in January when a new General Assembly is sworn in.It will be the first major changes in the Springfield cast of characters since 2003, when 3 of the four legislative leaders entered their current positions.

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Former Illinois Gov. Jim Edgar, a Republican, and ex-U.S. Commerce Secretary William Daley, a Democrat, are spearheading a new effort to make Illinois' public school system better.They're co-chairing Advance Illinois, which bills itself as a "statewide and independent nonprofit organization dedicated to ensuring that our state's public schools prepare every child to compete in the global economy."The state's educational system has various problems, according to a report that Advance Illinois is releasing today at a morning news conference in Chicago and an afternoon news conference in Springfield. For example, the report says, Illinois student performance on national tests is "mediocre at best," too many students don't finish high school, and the ones who do finish often aren't prepared for post-secondary education or the workforce.The report offers no specific solutions. Advance Illinois plans to conduct research and listen to the ideas of parents, educators and other people as it crafts strategies. It will host a series of "community conversations" to solicit input.The organization has set up a Web site at http://www.advanceillinois.org/.

Saturday, November 15, 2008

State Rep. Bob Flider (D-Mount Zion) is calling on the Senate to approve a measure that he passed out of the House last April requiring Illinois to pay bills owed to health service providers within 30 days.Flider also recently introduced reform legislation requiring the state to reimburse pharmacists that fill prescriptions under the Governor Blagojevich’s unlawful health care expansion, according to a press release from Flider's office.“Currently, doctors, health care specialists and other service providers are being stiffed on bills owed by the State of Illinois because the Blagojevich administration is not paying the state’s bills on time or in some cases not paying them at all,” Flider said.“As our state continues to grapple with his legacy of fiscal mismanagement created by an estimated $4 billion in unpaid bills to service providers, I implore the Senate to vote on and pass this vital legislation that would force the governor to provide some much-needed accountability to Illinois’ taxpayers.”A major reform contained in House Bill 5898 would be to prohibit the governor from creating new programs until he develops a plan to pay off the existing backlog of bills. This legislation also aims to shorten the current payment cycle to 30 days and increase interest payments paid to providers when the state is late in providing reimbursements.“With our country in the midst of an economic calamity, businesses are struggling to survive, and the state is making matters worse for them rather than better,” Flider added. “I encourage the Senate leadership to do the right thing and allow the Senate to vote on and passthis important legislation.” In addition to the this reform legislation, Flider recently introduced House Bill 6726, which would require the Department of Healthcare and Family Services to reimburse pharmacists for providing prescription drugs to individuals receiving medical assistance under the governor’s unlawful health care expansion. Recent media reports have documented that under Blagojevich’s unlawful health care expansion, prescription drug providers have been asked to fill patients’prescriptions without receiving reimbursement from the state. “I applaud Representative Flider for introducing legislation that reforms the state’s practice of forcing pharmacists to fill prescriptions for individuals receiving care under FamilyCare,” said Terry Traster, owner of Moweaqua Pharmacy.“Small business owners like myself have incurred huge loses when we have been forced to foot the bill for providing services for the governor’s health care program, while we have not been reimbursed by the state,” said Traster.House Bill 5898 is supported by the Illinois Taxpayers Federation, Illinois State Medical Society, the Illinois Homecare Council and the Illinois Retail Merchants Association.The measure passed the House, but was never called for a vote in the Senate. House Bill 6726 was introduced in the House earlier this month and now awaits action in the House Rules Committee.

Friday, November 14, 2008

SPRINGFIELD - A decision on who will take the reins of the Illinois Senate in January could come as soon as next week.

Meeting for the first time since the general election, members of the Illinois Senate spent Wednesday jockeying for position in the leadership scramble caused by the pending retirement of Senate President Emil Jones, D-Chicago.

Whoever crosses the finish line first could attempt to set a different tone in the General Assembly, which has been mired in political gridlock for the past two years.The infighting among Democrats who control the Senate, House and governor's office has left the state saddled with a budget deficit and a lack of progress on a long-sought road- and bridge-building program.

Front-runners to replace Jones include Democratic state Sens. John Cullerton of Chicago and James Clayborne of Belleville.

Democratic sources tell CNN that President-elect Barack Obama and Sen. Hillary Clinton had a "serious discussion" Thursday to gauge Clinton's interest in the post of secretary of state, if she were offered it. Clinton's response is unknown, although multiple sources agree that she was left with the impression that if she were interested in the post, it would be hers. full story

CHICAGO (AP) —President-elect Barack Obama says he’s resigning from the Senate, effective Sunday.He is calling his four-year term “one of the highest honors and privileges” of his life.The move was expected. Obama won the presidency last week over Republican John McCain.It’s now up to Democratic Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich to name Obama’s replacement. Congress is scheduled to meet in a special session next week.

Thursday, November 13, 2008

State senators kept a light workload on the first day of their fall veto session Wednesday, focusing more on sorting out who will be their next political leaders.Much of the nearly two hours that the Senate met was dominated by both Democrats and Republicans talking to each other and reporters about their new leadership.Both Senate President Emil Jones, D-Chicago, and Senate Minority Leader Frank Watson, R-Greenville, are leaving their leader posts in January. Each side has a couple of favorites but also several others jockeying for the powerful roles.Senators stressed there’s nothing decided yet, but they hope the new leaders can be picked by next week.“Both caucuses need to resolve the issue as quickly as possible and let the people of the state of Illinois know which direction we’re headed,” said Sen. John O. Jones, R-Mount Vernon.The House last month canceled its first week of the scheduled two-week veto session after lawmakers came back to Springfield several times this summer and dealt with most governor vetoes and other matters.Senate leaders announced Wednesday they were canceling Friday’s scheduled session.They put into position several measures that could head to the governor’s desk as early as today, including authority for a clean-coal power plant in Taylorville and a referendum for a sales tax increase in Peoria County to pay for a riverfront museum.But mostly the focus was on the leadership battle.Democrats and Republicans planned to meet privately in different locations in the capital city Wednesday evening with two goals: sort through who the serious candidates are and set a process and timeline for picking a winner.Democrats face arguably the tougher choice because their winner will control the chamber as Senate president. That requires the votes of 30 senators, and front-runners acknowledged no one is to that point yet.“Nobody’s near 30 right now,” said Sen. Terry Link, D-Waukegan. “We will be discussing this as mature adults.”Democrat candidates denied they were offering plum committee appointments or using heavy financial support of some lawmakers this fall to win votes.Sen. John Sullivan, D-Rushville, said Democrats may need to take several votes privately first but expect to avoid divisiveness for the official floor vote.Republicans, meanwhile, had to scramble more to find a replacement for Watson, who announced just last week he wouldn’t return as leader after suffering a stroke. Their winner needs just 12 of the 22 GOP votes, but there’s no frontrunner right now.They also hoped for a quick choice without any infighting and hope for more cooperation under new Senate leadership, while acknowledging there’s a downside to Democrats working together.“They could all get along, and then I think we’d really be run in the ground,” said Sen. Dale Risinger, R-Peoria.“The good news is that they don’t get along, and so nothing happens. That’s better than some of the things they want to do.”Also Wednesday:*A Senate committee postponed action on appointments made by Gov. Rod Blagojevich to the State Board of Elections, including William Quinlan, the father of Blagojevich’s legal counsel.The Senate Executive Appointments Committee was voting on Quinlan’s appointment when it became apparent he wasn’t getting enough votes to pass.Committee chairman Sen. Rickey Hendon, D-Chicago, then announced that all of the pending appointments to the board — two new members and two reappointments — would be postponed until another date.Both Quinlan and the lawmaker pushing for his approval said they had no idea there were problems with the appointment. One of the opponents, Sen. Dale Righter, R-Mattoon, would only say there are “still some serious questions” about the appointment.* Senators gave a standing ovation after a brief speech by Jones honoring political protege and former state Sen. Barack Obama on his presidential win last week. Jones said lawmakers are proud to see their ex-colleague take over the country.“It’s a great feeling for all of us to have someone from Illinois,” Jones said.

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Q: What is the fall veto session all about?A: Traditionally, the fall veto session gives lawmakers a chance to catch up on work that’s been building up since their spring legislative session ended in May. They usually deal with dozens of bills the governor has partially or fully vetoed during the summer, and they sometimes deal with measures that are considered too controversial to take up during election season.This year is different. Lawmakers were in town several times since May to deal with the state budget mess and other issues, and they took care of all but a couple of governor vetoes. That means these next two weeks won’t be much of a true “veto” session.Q: So if there aren’t many vetoes, what do lawmakers have to do?A: Not a lot of nuts-and-bolts legislating.“We dealt with a lot of bills already,” said Sen. Dave Koehler, D-Peoria. “I don’t know how much we’re actually going to have before us.”The House decided to cancel its first week of work, arguing it had already accomplished what would normally be done the first week of veto session. So House members won’t be in town until next week.The Senate expects to be preoccupied for much of the two weeks with picking new leadership.Both Democratic Senate President Emil Jones and Republican Leader Frank Watson are stepping down in January, creating an extremely rare changeover of leadership for both parties. Senators will be meeting in closed-door party caucuses to go over the pros and cons of several candidates. They’ll aim to decide fairly quickly who will lead them heading into next spring.Q: Is there really nothing for lawmakers to do now?

"State Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias is pushing a plan for the legislature to formally congratulate President-elect Barack Obama with a resolution that recognizes the "indelible mark" Obama has left on Illinois and throughout the world," Adriana Colindres reports in the State Journal-Register."It shows the respect that the General Assembly has for his service," Giannoulias said. "Hopefully, it'll inspire other people to maybe run for office."The proposed legislative resolution isn't yet in final form, but Giannoulias said he'd like for it to come up for consideration this week in the Illinois Senate, where Obama served from 1997-2004. The treasurer, a Democrat like Obama, also hopes the House will take up the resolution when it returns to the state Capitol next week.Giannoulias, who referred to Obama as his "mentor," has not been mentioned as likely candidate to follow Obama to Washington. Nevertheless, he was asked about the prospect of serving in the new administration:"I really do love being state treasurer. Unless the president-elect really needs me, I plan on staying in the state treasurer's office."

Senator Dick Durbin briefly discussed his daughter's recent death after a Veteran's Day event at Camp Butler National Cemetery outside of Springfield."It's a reminder that politics has its limits," Durbin said somberly. "Life goes on, life and death, and ... your family is the most important thing."Christine Durbin, 40, died Nov. 1 from complications related to a congenital heart condition.

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Monday, November 10, 2008

WASHINGTON - The Bushes welcomed the Obamas to the White House on Monday, offering a symbolic glimpse of what's in store for the country: a new first family along with a new administration.

President Bush and President-elect Obama met in the Oval Office, their first face-to-face session, while first lady Laura Bush and Obama's wife, Michelle, held their own meeting in the White House residence.

Sunday, November 9, 2008

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. -- The balance of power in the Illinois General Assembly didn't change much with last week's election, but major change could be on the horizon anyway.The retirement of Senate President Emil Jones - whose legacy of undaunting support for the highly unpopular Gov. Rod Blagojevich has contributed to stalled action in the Legislature - undoubtedly will usher in a new era of conciliation.

Saturday, November 8, 2008

The Effingham County Democrat Party would like to extend a big thank you to all who helped make this election a success.

To the candidates...thank you for all of your hard work and effort whether victorious or not. You instilled the importance of the issues to voters throughout the county and districts.

To the precinct committeemen...thank you for your efforts in informing the voters of the issues and the candidates; working throughout the community on behalf of the candidates; and overseeing the campaign headquarters.

To the voters...you are the most important part. If it were not for you, all of our work would be pointless. Thank your for listening to the issues, educating yourselves on the candidates and venturing to the polls to make educated decisions! We could not have done it without you!

Please continue to visit the blog as we continue to keep you posted on the happenings in national and state government and the Democratic Party.

Friday, November 7, 2008

Barack Obama, center, takes a question from a reporter Friday in Chicago during his first news conference as president-elect. Standing at right is Vice President-elect Joe Biden, at left is White House Chief of Staff-designate Rahm Emanuel.

First appearance before reporters since election focuses on dire economy

CHICAGO - President-elect Barack Obama said Friday that the country is facing the greatest economic challenge of our lifetime and "we're going to have to act swiftly to resolve it."Flanked by members of his economic advisory board, Obama held his first press conference as president-elect, stressing that the focus of his efforts would be the struggling middle class."We need a rescue plan for the middle class that invests in immediate efforts to create jobs and provides relief to families that are watching their paychecks shrink and their life savings disappear," Obama said in his opening statement before taking questions.

Wednesday, November 5, 2008

Barack Obama, a 47-year-old first-term senator from Illinois, shattered more than 200 years of history Tuesday night by winning election as the first African-American president of the United States.

A crowd of 125,000 people jammed Grant Park in Chicago, where Obama addressed the nation for the first time as its president-elect at midnight ET. Hundreds of thousands more — Mayor Richard Daley said he would not be surprised if a million Chicagoans jammed the streets — watched on a large television screen outside the park.“If there is anyone out there who doubts that America is a place where anything is possible, who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time, who still questions the power of our democracy, tonight is your answer,” Obama declared.

Monday, November 3, 2008

HONOLULU - Barack Obama's grandmother, whose personality and bearing shaped much of the life of the Democratic presidential contender, has died, Obama announced Monday, one day before the election. Madelyn Payne Dunham was 86.

Obama announced the news from the campaign trail in Charlotte, North Carolina. The joint statement with his sister Maya Soetoro-Ng said Dunham died peacefully late Sunday night after a battle with cancer.

"She's gone home," Obama said as tens of thousands of rowdy supporters at the University of North Carolina-Charlotte grew silent in an evening drizzle.

"And this is the cause of my life -- new hope that we will break the old gridlock and guarantee that every American -- north, south, east, west, young, old -- will have decent, quality health care as a fundamental right and not a privilege. "Ted Kennedy